Administration set



Oct. 9, 1962 c. c. cowLEY 3,057,350

ADMINISTRATION SET Filed June 27, 1958 INVENTOR. 25 CHA V//V C. COU/LEVEl a, BY -85 Z5 /5 United States Patent Oiice 3,057,350 Patented Oct. 9,1962 3,057,350 ADMINISTRATN SET Calvin C. Cowley, La Canada, Calif.,assignor to Don Baxter, Inc., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of NevadaFiled .lune 27, 1958, Ser. No. 745,168 8 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 214) Thisinvention relates to an administration set for parenteral solutions andparticularly to a set for administering intravenous anesthetics.

In the administration of an intravenous anesthetic, such as sodiumthiopental, the usual procedure is t first infuse saline or dextrosesolution. The intravenous anesthetic agent is then administered from ahypodermic syringe by inserting the syringe needle through a rubber tubenear the patient end of the administration set. This arrangement maycause trouble however, because the rubber gland tends to leak when theneedle is withdrawn. Even more serious, is the tendency of the syringeplunger to creep. This may cause 4the patient to receive too muchanesthetic, or infusion solution may enter the syringe thereby dilutingthe anesthetic agent. Both of these possibilities are obviously highlyundesirable.

Metal stopcocks, known to the trade as three-way stopcocks, have beenused to control the administration of anesthetic agents and infusionsolutions. Such stopcocks are expensive and extremely diflicult to cleanand they cannot be used to administer more than one solution at a time.

It is the general object of this invention to provide an improved,expendable administration set for administering intravenous anesthetics.

Another object of the invention is to provide an administration set for'administering two solutions either alternately or simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set for administrationof intravenous anesthetic which will prevent diffusion or dilution ofthe anesthetic.

Another object of the invention is to provide an administration set foradministering three different solutions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an administration setfor intravenous anesthetics in which the anesthetic reaches the patientwith a minimum of delay yafter it is introduced into the set.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an administrationset in which auxiliary medication, such as curare or a stimulant, can be`administered without disturbing the administration of infusion oranesthetic solutions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive,expendable administration set having a lightweight valve or stopcock,the plug of which will not come loose, even during pressureadministration.

The administration set of the present invention will.

be more fully understood from the description of the preferred form ofthe invention given with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a plan View of the invention including the connector 10.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the connector 10.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 isa partial view in section of a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, the administration set has a connectorgenerally indicated as 10, a small diameter flexible tube 11 and aneedle adapter 12. The connector l0 has a body 13 through which 'a bore14 passes. The upper portion of the bore 14 has a tapered surface 15. Atthe top of the body 13, an annular ange 16 projects outwardly. Theilange has a flat horizontal bottom surface 17 and an outer surface 18which tapers inwardly toward the top. At the lower end, the bore 14tapers inwardly along the surface 19 to a relatively small outlet tube20 which is connected by the small flexible tube l1 to one end of theneedle adapter 12. The adapter 12 has a flange 21, ya tapered extension22 adapted to receive the hub 23 of the needle 23a and a protector hub24.

Near the middle of the body 13, cross tubes 25 and 26 project outwardlyon opposite sides, preferably at right angles to the body. The tubes 25and 26 are provided with bores 27 and 28 having tapered surfaces 29 and30 which are adapted to receive a Luer or other standard, male, needleadapter. At the junctions of the bores 27 and 28 with the bore 14partial diaphragms 35 projecting into the bores 27 and 2S form therectangular openings 31 and 32.

The tapered bore 14 is preferably adapted to receive a rotatable valvemember 40. The valve member 40 has a tapered plug 41 and a top section42, the latter extending beyond the body 13 when the plug 41 is placedin the bore 14. A bore 43 extends through the valve member 4t) and isprovided at its lower end with an opening 44 restricted and reinforcedby the ledge 45. At the other end, the bore 43 has a tapered innersurface 46 adapted to receive a needle adapter. A removable, resealablerubber stopper 47, having a plug 48, and a skirt 49 closes this end ofthe bore 43. On one side, the tapered plug 41 has a slot 51 the sides52, 53 of which meet the -bottom iiat wall portion 57 at substantiallyright angles. The upper end of the slot 51 is closed while the lower endhas an opening 55. The bore 43 adjacent the upper end of la slot 51 hasa slanting surface 56 extending inwardly on one side to form at wallportion 57.

The top section `42 of the valve member 40 has a horizontal flange 5Sextending outwardly and adapted to serve as a valve handle. In thepreferred design, the flange 58 -is provided with an arrow-like point 69indicating the position of slot 51. Retaining hooks for holding thevalve plug 41 in the connector body 13 are provided by the arms 59 whichextend downwardly from ange 58 and hooks 61 and 62 which extend inwardlyfrom arms 59. The hooks 61 and 62 have slanted inner edges 63 and 64 andflat horizontal surfaces 615 and 66. Above the hooks 61 and 62, holes 67and 68 pass through flanges 58.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the lower end of the bore 43 may be provided withia check valve unit 80 having a body 81, one end of which has a valveseat 82 and the other end a restricted outlet 83. The seat 82 has atapered surface 84. A spring 85 holds the ball 86 against the taperedseat 84 except when fluid pressure in the bore 43 forces the ball downand opens the v-alve.

Both the body 10 and the valve member 40` are preferably molded ofplastic material. Nylon has been found particularly suitable because ofits moldability, strength, and resilience, but polyvinyl chloride,polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and other plastics can beused. The arms 59 and the hooks 61 and '62 of valve member 40 requiremore strength and resilience than other parts of the structure, and whenincluded in the structure, may limit the usable materials somewhat.

In use, a bottle of infusion solution is connected by an administrationset 91 to tube 26 of the connector 10. The administration set may beprovided with a drip indicator 92 and a clamp 93 or other ow controldevice. A syring 94 is filled with a solution of anesthetic suitable forintravenous use and is connected to the tube 25. The

3 flange 58 is then tur-ned till the slot 51 connects with the bore 28and infusion solution is allowed to flow from bottle 90 through the set91, the bore 28, the slot 51, the outlet tube 20, the fiexible tube 11,the adapter 12, and the needle 23a into the veins of the patient.

To administer anesthetic, the flange 58 is turned until the slot 51connects with the bore 27. A measured amount of anesthetic solution isthen forced from the syringe through the bore 27, the slot 51 and thetube 11. The flange 58 is then turned back to connect with the bore 28,and administration of the infusion solution is resumed.

If for any reason additional medication is needed, it may be injectedfrom a syringe through the stopper 47 into bore 43. For example, itmight be desirable to inject a stimulant quickly in an emergency, or toinject a muscle relaxing agent such as curare or succinylcholinechloride without interfering with the liow of infusion solution oranesthetic. After the injection is made, the syringe needle may bewithdrawn and the stopper 47 reseals around the needle puncture.Alternatively the stopper 47 may be removed and a male needle adapterinserted in the tapered bore 43.

Alternatively the infusion solution may be connected to the bore 43,anesthetic agent to the bore 27 and muscle relaxant to the bore 28. Inthis way the infusion solution flows continuously through the bore 43.Anesthetic or relaxant is added to the continuous fiow as needed, byturning the valve member 40.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 6, a check valve 80 normally closesthe bore 43 so that solution cannot escape during manipulations. Whenpressure is applied to the -solution connected to bore 43, the ball 86is forced away from the tapered seat 84 allowing solution to liowthrough to the patient.

I claim:

1. In an administration set, a connector having a body, a tapered boreextending through said body, tubes extending outwardly from said bodyand communicating with said bore, a tapered plug in said bore, the wallsof said plug defining a longitudinal passage through said plug and alongitudinal slot along the outside surface of said plug, said slotadapted to port one of said tubes into said bore and reversible to portthe other of said tubes to said bore and a permeable diaphragm closingthe top end of said passage.

2. In an administration set, a connector having a body, a tapered boreextending through said body, tubes extending outwardly from said bodyand communicating with said bore, a tapered plug in said bore, the wallsof said plug defining a longitudinal passage through said plug and alongitudinal slot along the outside Surface of said plug, said slotadapted to port one of said tubes into said bore and reversible to portthe other of said tubes to said bore, a permeable diaphragm closing thetop end of said passage, and a check valve in said passage.

3. In an administration set, a connector having a body, a tapered boreextending through said body, tubes extending outwardly from said bodyand communicating with said bore, a tapered plug in said bore, the wallsof said plug defining a longitudinal passage through said plug and alongitudinal slot along the outside surface of said plug, said slotadapted to port one of said tubes into said bore and reversible to portthe other of said tubes to said bore, said plug extending longitudinallybeyond said body, means carried by said plug and said body to rotatablyhold said plug in said body, and a permeable diaphragm closing the topend of said passage.

4. In an administration set, a connector having a body, a tapered boreextending through said body, tubes extending outwardly from said bodyand communicating with said bore, a tapered plug in said bore, the wallsof said plug defining a longitudinal slot running along the outside ofsaid plug and a passage through the center of said plug, said slotadapted to port one of said tubes into said bore and reversible to portthe other of said tubes to said bore, and means at the top end of saidplug to seal said end, said means comprising a sealing connector toattach an injection syringe to said passage.

5. A valved connector comprising: a body having a tapered bore; anannular flange extending outwardly from one end of said body and havinga fiat horizontal bottom surface, a top surface, and an edge surface,the edge surface tapering inwardly toward the top surface; a rotatableplug in the bore, one end of said plug extending axially beyond thebody; a fiange projecting outwardly from the extended portion of theplug; arms extending from said liange toward the body; prongs extendinginwardly from each arm beneath the annular flange of the body, saidprongs being adapted to hook under the annular fiange to hold the plugin the body; a flat horizontal top surface, a bottom surface, and anedge surface on said prongs, said edge surface tapering inwardly towardthe top surface; and openings defined by the walls of a portion of theflange immediately above the top surface of the prongs.

6. A valved connector comprising: a body having a longitudinal bore;inlet tubes extending outwardly from the sides of said body; an outlettube extending longitudinally from one end of said body; a rotatableplug inserted in the end of the body opposite the outlet tube; a passagein said plug adapted to port one of the inlet tubes to the outlet tubeand reversible to port another inlet tube to said outlet tube; and asecond passage in said plug extending longitudinally therethrough,whereby an open passage is provided through the plug to the outlet tubein all positions of the rotatable plug.

7. A valved connector comprising: a body having a tapered bore; acontinuous, uninterrupted, annular fiange extending outwardly completelyaround the periphery of one end of said body; a rotatable plug in thebore, one end of Said plug extending axially beyond the body; a

fiange projecting outwardly from the extended portion of the plug andhaving a bottom surface facing, but spaced from, the body; armsextending from said bottom flange surface generally parallel to therotatable plug, said arms being resiliently displaceable in a radiallyoutward direc- .v tion; prongs extending inwardly from each arm beneaththe annular flange of the body, said prongs being adapted to snap overand under the annular flange so as to hold the plug in the body in allpositions of rotation; and openings defined by the walls of a portion ofthe plug fiange immediately above the top Surface of said prongs.

8. A valved connector comprising: a body having a tapered bore; acontinuous, uninterrupted, annular ange extending outwardly completelyaround the periphery of one end of said body; a rotatable plug in thebore, one end of said plug extending axially beyond the body; a flangeprojecting radially outward from the extended portion of the plug, saidfiange having a bottom surface facing, but spaced from, the body; stiff,outwardly-yieldable arms extending from said bottom flange surfacegenerally parallel to the body axis; prongs extending inwardly from eacharm beneath the annular flange of the body, said prongs being adapted tosnap over and under the annular fiange to hold the plug in the body inall positions of rotation; a fiat horizontal top surface, and an edgesurface on said prongs, said edge surface tapering inwardly toward thetop surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,017,789 Murphy Feb. 20, 1912 1,710,54-0 Hollander Apr. 23, 19291,748,810 Wandel Feb. 25, 1930 2,485,842 Pennington Oct. 25, 19492,842,124 .lames July 8, 1958 2,854,027 Kaiser et al Sept. 30, 1958

